Believes what once was incongruity.
The lessons of a life-time now hath taught
The old man to put faith in holy things;
He strikes his bosom, for a happy thought
Revives some former truthful ponderings.
Alas! he fails, bed-ridden; (hence he dies.)—
Some goodly creature reads the Book of fate.[68]
His family ’round him, sees him close his eyes;
And thus is finish’d the four-fold estate.
[68] The Bible.